Electrolux E03 fridge freezer: what it means & what to check

What E03 actually means

The control board has lost a sensible reading from one of the fridge freezer's temperature sensors and has flagged it as a fault.

On Electrolux refrigeration the E-series codes are the control board reporting that a temperature sensor circuit reads open or short rather than a plausible temperature, and E03 sits in that group reezer side sensor. Because the board can no longer trust the reading, it falls back on a fixed run pattern instead of controlling to your set temperature, so the cabinet can end up too warm or too cold while the code sits on the display. The service material we hold is not consistent on which sensor E03 refers to on every model, so this is not a code we would put a firm single cause to without seeing the appliance.

What E03 looks like on a Electrolux fridge freezer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux fridge freezer, E03 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
Not cooling
Freezer not freezing
Ice building up at the back
Food going off in the fridge
Running constantly and never getting cold

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Freezer compartment temperature sensor failed open or short circuit
A loose or corroded sensor plug behind the cabinet
Damp or ice damage to the sensor wiring
Control board fault misreading a healthy sensor

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the appliance off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on \u2014 an occasional glitch will clear
Check the freezer is not iced up around the back wall and that nothing is jammed against the rear of the compartment
Make sure the doors are closing fully and the seals are not held open by packaging

Which Electrolux models show E03

E03 means the same thing on all 14 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

AKA23 · EN6086JOX · EPF09V1S8 · EPF18V1O8 · EPF18V1O9 · EPF27V1O9 · EPF36V1O8 · EPS09V39HWO · EPS09V57HWI · EUC2404 · EWUD040F8B · EXM12HJESI · EXP09CL1WI · LNT8MB36B

Common questions about Electrolux E03

What does E03 mean on a Electrolux fridge freezer?

The control board has lost a sensible reading from one of the fridge freezer's temperature sensors and has flagged it as a fault. On Electrolux refrigeration the E-series codes are the control board reporting that a temperature sensor circuit reads open or short rather than a plausible temperature, and E03 sits in that group reezer side sensor. Because the board can no longer trust the reading, it falls back on a fixed run pattern instead of controlling to your set temperature, so the cabinet can end up too warm or too cold while the code sits on the display. The service material we hold is not consistent on which sensor E03 refers to on every model, so this is not a code we would put a firm single cause to without seeing the appliance.

Can I fix Electrolux E03 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the appliance off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on \u2014 an occasional glitch will clear.
Check the freezer is not iced up around the back wall and that nothing is jammed against the rear of the compartment.
Make sure the doors are closing fully and the seals are not held open by packaging.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E03?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E03?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most fridge freezer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Electrolux fridge freezer codes

All Electrolux fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Electrolux E03 error — fridge freezer